Taking a boat out to see gives you an unprecedented sense of liberation and freedom that many people enjoy daily. Unfortunately, injuries at sea are not only not unheard of but can actually be quite common.
Overall best boat first aid kit:
You can’t pop down to your local hospital if you’re miles away from land, so that’s why it’s important to have a comprehensive first aid kit on board. In this review, we will take a look at some great options to help you decide which is the best first aid kit for a boat.
Contents
- Quick View: 5 Best First Aid Kits For Boating
- Importance Of Having An Emergency First Aid Kit On Your Boat
- #1 MyMedic MyFAK Pro, Waterproof Boat Medic Kit: Best Overall Boat First Aid Kit
- #2 Breakwater Supply: Best Emergency Boat Kit
- #3 Well-Strong First Aid Kit: Best Boat First Aid Kit for Kayaks
- #4 Marine First Aid Kit: Best Compact Hardshell Boat First Aid Kit
- #5 Always Prepared Marine Kits: Best Minimal Hardshell Boat First Aid Kit
- FAQs
- Conclusion
Quick View: 5 Best First Aid Kits For Boating
- MyMedic MyFAK Pro, Waterproof Boat Medic Kit
- Breakwater Supply Boating Safety Kit
- Well-Strong First Aid Kit
- Marine First Aid Kit
- Always Prepared Marine Kit
Importance Of Having An Emergency First Aid Kit On Your Boat
Even for the most cautious sailors, a boat can be a high-risk environment for injuries. There are countless ways that an injury can occur, and these could be caused by a moment of negligence or your boat hitting an unexpected wave, among other causes.
Broken bones, lacerations, and physical trauma are a few injuries that can occur at sea, and you need to be able to deal with them. Even if you’re not that far from land, it could be a while before you can dock, get in a vehicle and go to the hospital.
Time is often of the essence in any medical emergency, so that’s why you need to be prepared to treat common injuries personally. A boat medical kit is essential for this purpose, and you need to find the best one for you.
Essential Features To Have When Looking For A Boat Medical Kit
Waterproof
As you can imagine, you will be surrounded by a lot of water when out on a boat. If you need your medical kit on hand quickly, you could fumble it in a panic and drop it into a puddle of water or worse, overboard.
If the medical kit would be ruined by immediate contact with water, then that would seriously defeat the purpose. That’s why having a waterproof container is vital for keeping your supplies in top shape.
Buoyant Case That Floats
In the previous point, we spoke about how you can drop your medical kit overboard. You’ve made sure that the case is waterproof after reading our suggestion, but what good is that if it sinks down to the bottom of the ocean?
A buoyant case is useful for situations like this, and it ensures you can retrieve your supplies easily.
Enough Supplies For All Passengers
One injury onboard is bad enough, but instances can happen where all passengers are injured. If that’s the case, you don’t want to have a medical kit for two when you have ten passengers injured onboard.
That’s why we recommend having a kit that has enough supplies for the maximum occupancy limit of your vessel. It’s preferable to have more than you need, but the minimum should be the max limit.
#1 MyMedic MyFAK Pro, Waterproof Boat Medic Kit: Best Overall Boat First Aid Kit
The MyMedic MyFak Pro, waterproof boat medic first aid kit is our top choice for a great overall boating first aid kit. It has some incredible features and inclusions, some of which we will cover now.
Key Features
Watertight Seal, Crush Proof and Dust Proof
The Boat Medic kit should last a long time while withstanding some serious punishment. This is thanks to the durable casing which protects it from water and dust to keep the contents safe and secure.
It is also protected from crushing or external damage.
Hand Picked Supplies By First Responders And Medical Professionals
The impressive list of first aid implements in this kit was curated by actual first responders and medical professionals, so you can be assured that the contents are all there for a good reason and to cover a wide range of injuries.
Color Options For Maximum Visibility
When you need a medical kit in an emergency, it’s vital that you can find it quickly. That’s why MyMedic offers 7 different color choices for the kit so that you can make sure it’s a color that will be easy for you to identify.
HSA/FSA Approved
The kit has been approved for both the Health Spending Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) medical aid programs.
Made In The USA
The Boat Medic kit has been entirely manufactured in the USA, which is great for people wanting to support American-made products.
Lifetime Guarantee
If you’re on the fence, you can rest assured with a lifetime guarantee offered by MyMedic that you can take advantage of.
Design
The kit comes in a durable carrying case that is compact and portable. It has a height of 12.5 inches, a width of 10 Inches, and a depth of 6 inches. The kit weighs 3 lbs, 7oz, making it not too heavy.
Medical Supplies Included
The Boat Medic kit contains many different kinds of medical supplies. These cover a range of maladies from bleeding, splints for fractures, infections, upset stomachs, and many more. There are too many to list here, but you can check out the full contents on the product page.
Pros And Cons
As we have seen in this overview, this kit provides many benefits with pretty much no downsides. It has a durable case that will protect the contents. The varied supplies inside should be great for most kinds of accidents that can happen at sea.
Because of how comprehensive it is, we would recommend this kit for medium to larger-sized vessels.
#2 Breakwater Supply: Best Emergency Boat Kit
Our second pick for a boat medical aid kit to consider would be the Breakwater Supply waterproof marine emergency kit. This kit shares many of the same features as the previous one, but it has a few differences that make it great for emergencies.
Key Features
Waterproof
As you would hope, this kit has a waterproof container to protect the contents from water damage.
USCG Approved Flairs
The kit contains an electronic flair that has been approved by the US Coast Guard. This flair will never expire, and thus meets USCG regulations. This is a great tool to have in an emergency where you need to draw attention to yourself for help.
MultiTool For Mechanical Repairs
Included in this kit is a handy compact multitool that can be used for basic repairs. It includes a screwdriver, cutting edge, various wrench sizes, and even a bottle opener!
This could be very handy if you need to make repairs in a pinch.
SOS Flag
In the unfortunate event of an emergency where you need assistance, the kit contains an SOS flag that you can use. This is also best used with the flair we mentioned earlier so that your requests for help won’t go unnoticed.
Made In The USA
This kit is once again a proudly American-made product.
Design
This medical kit comes in another durable case that is bright red for visibility. The dimensions are 11.3 x 11.2 x 5.5 inches, and it weighs around 4.1 lbs.
Medical Supplies Included
In terms of what is included, the kit comes with a basic medical kit that includes treatments for most minor injuries. It also comes with the flare, multitool, and SOS flag we mentioned, along with a whistle.
Pros And Cons
The Breakwater Supply Boat Safety Kit is an excellent kit to have onboard for boating emergencies and incidents. The tools included mean it will be much easier to flag down help if you’re in need.
In terms of drawbacks, the medical supplies, in this case, are a lot more limited, so you may need to pair them with a more comprehensive medical kit.
#3 Well-Strong First Aid Kit: Best Boat First Aid Kit for Kayaks
The next kit we have to show you is the Well-Strong First Aid Kit. This is a smaller, more compact kit that we would recommend for kayaks and smaller boats. Let’s take a look at what it has to offer!
Key Features
Packable Dry Bag
The Well-Strong First aid kit comes in a durable dry bag that will help to protect the contents from water damage, which is essential for kayaks and smaller boats.
Can Be Used For Camping
Because of its compact size and easy-to-carry nature, this kit would be perfect to bring along on camping trips or hikes as well as on small boats.
Essential First Aid Supplies Included
Included in this kit is a fairly comprehensive supply of basic first aid supplies. This should ensure that you can deal with most minor injuries and afflictions to buy yourself some time.
Easy To Carry
As mentioned earlier, this bag has been designed to be easy to carry, making transportation a breeze.
Multiple Colors Available.
There are several color choices available so you can decide what is best for your needs and preferences
Design
The kit comes in a compact, waterproof bag. At 2.36 x 3.74 x 10.24 inches and weighing 12 Ounces, it won’t take up much space in a boat or on a camping trip.
Medical Supplies Included
The kit comes with a surprisingly comprehensive supply of medical aid supplies and tools. These should be more than sufficient for minor cuts, bruises, fractures, and other injuries that need to be treated.
A more comprehensive list can be found on the product page.
Pros And Cons
The main benefits of this kit are its portability and the decent supply of medical supplies contained within.
In terms of downsides, it’s not fit for a larger group, and it would have been nice to have some additional non-essential tools included.
#4 Marine First Aid Kit: Best Compact Hardshell Boat First Aid Kit
Next, we have the Marine First Aid Kit. This is another medical kit that caught our eye for how compact it is, making it another ideal fit for people who sail alone or are on smaller boats and vessels.
Key Features
Hardshell Case
The kit is contained in a compact, durable hard shell case that is perfect for protecting the included medical supplies from bumps or general damage.
Waterproof
The case is not only durable but also waterproof, a feature you always want for any boat-related medical kit.
Small
This is one of the smallest kits on this list, which can be ideal if space on your boat is limited.
Can Be Used For Camping
Because of the small size and portability, this is another kit that would work just as well for camping and hiking trips.
Design
As previously mentioned, this kit comes in a small, durable, waterproof hard shell case. The dimensions for this kit are 8 x 4 x 1 inches at 6.38 Ounces, so it should fit easily in any small boat or even a backpack.
Medical Supplies Included
The kit contains a surprising amount of different medical supplies given its small size. It has the basics you would expect such as bandages and antiseptic wipes, but it has some other great supplies.
These include treatment for sunburn, burns, itching, and even sinus tablets. This is just a small selection, so we highly recommend checking out the product page for more information.
Pros And Cons
This is another kit that highlights portability along with a decent range of medical supplies as its main benefits.
The only downsides are that it would not be ideal for larger vessels or more than one or two people, so that’s worth considering.
#5 Always Prepared Marine Kits: Best Minimal Hardshell Boat First Aid Kit
The final kit we have to share with you in this list would be the Always Prepared Marine Kit. This kit presents another great option for people who want a durable, comprehensive medical kit suited to smaller boats or a smaller group of people.
Key Features
Hard Shell Case
Once again, we see a kit that comes in a nice compact, hard shell case. This is always a great option for keeping your medical supplies safe and protected.
Waterproof
The case we mentioned is also waterproof and watertight, so you don’t need to worry about the case being accidentally exposed to water.
Includes Flashlight And Bungee Cords
A somewhat unique inclusion for this kit is that it has a flashlight and bungee cords. The flashlight would be great for seeing in the dark or signaling for help, and the bungee cords can be used to secure objects in an emergency or while sailing through rough waters.
Design
We again have a simple, compact design for the casing of this medical kit. The hard shell case has a convenient handle, and its dimensions are 10.25 x 7.25 x 4 inches. It weighs around 13.2 lbs, making it a good mid-sized kit.
Medical Supplies Included
The kit comes with a decent amount of basic medical supplies, such as bandages, gauze, gloves, antiseptic, and other smaller supplies for basic emergencies.
Additionally, it also contains tools such as a wrench, compass, distress flag, and rain ponchos. As always, we suggest checking out the product page for a more detailed rundown of what is included.
Pros And Cons
To sum up, the benefits of this kit include its fairly compact durable design and portability. It also includes a decent range of tools apart from the medical supplies, meaning it has uses other than just medical attention.
Again, it is not ideal for more advanced medical attention and would be best suited to smaller groups and vessels.
In emergency situations at sea, where immediate medical assistance is often hours away, the value of a well-equipped first aid kit becomes immeasurably clear. With the Coast Guard reporting thousands of boating accidents each year, a kit that includes a wide range of medical supplies tailored for marine use is indispensable. The MyMedic MyFAK Pro’s selection of medical tools and supplies, curated by professionals, provides peace of mind that you’re prepared to handle a variety of medical scenarios, ensuring the safety and well-being of all on board.
– Eddie Penney Emergency Prep Expert
FAQs
Where Is The Best Place To Store A Boat Medical Kit?
This can vary, but you ideally want to store it somewhere where it will be easily accessible while ideally safe from damage and water exposure. Somewhere cool and dry would be ideal for storage.
What Are The Three Ps Of Basic First Aid?
The three Ps of first aid would be: Preserve life, Prevent deterioration, and Promote recovery.
Do First Aid Kits Expire?
Most first aid kits will have elements that can expire, so it’s a good idea to be mindful of expiration dates so you know when to replace your gear.
Is A First Aid Kit Required On A Boat?
This can depend on local laws, but a first aid kit is usually required on a boat. Even when not required, it is always highly recommended to have one available on board.
Do You Need A First Aid Kit On A Boat?
While you will hope to never need one, you should always have a first aid kit on board in case of emergencies.
Conclusion
As we have seen in this overview, a first aid kit is always a good idea to have around if you have a boat. We have covered kits that would be good for both small and large vessels, so you should be covered no matter what kind of sailor you may be.
We hope that this list was helpful in getting you started toward making yourself safer while adventuring out on the water!
